THE CRIME OF DESTITUTION.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4621, 26 October 1883, Page 2

THE CRIME OF DESTITUTION.

(To the Editor of the Evening Star.)

Sib.- <In Thursday's issue of your paper you mention that an old Waterloo veteran, 92 years of age| who was recently sentenced to sis: months imprisonment in Mount Eden Gaol for the above crime, was dead. Now, I mean to say that it is -a,monstrc'ft^ injustice that any man should be sent to prison for the crime of destitution. I say that the treatment of this infirm old man is a disgrace to our boasted Christianity and civilization. I will go further and say that it is a disgrace to our humauity and patriotism, to the City of Auckland, and to the Colony of New Zealand. Who was it framed this cruel law P Was it the tyranieal feu? dalinobility of the middle ages ? No ! to their shame be it said it was our own colonial Legislature, our own elected representatives,the men whom we trusted, that passed the Act under which the old man suffered. It is said that he trembled when plao d in the dock} the probability is that he did not tremble on the field of Waterloo on the memorable 18th June, 1815. He was one of those who by their valor on that day, sustained the integrity of the British Empire, and to see his reward J It is sr.d to think that there are other old men in Mount Eden Gaol for the same crime as that for which he suffered, and the paltry excuse for this state of things is that thera is no room in the Old Man's llefuge.—l ami &<?•» G. Vidai.